Lehrer, J. (2009) How we decide, Boston: Houghton, Mifflin, Harcourt

Humans are neither rational nor irrational, rather they are other than-rational. Science writer Jonah

Lehrer does an excellent job describing and defending this position. Even in those split second decision, rationality wins out if given a chance.

Historically, numerous scholars have argued about the level of rationality of people. However, they did so not on the basis of the technology that we have now. One individual, whose brain was severed, could only think rationally. The result? He could not make up his mind.

We need feelings to compliment and inter mix with the rational pre-frontal cortex. If we

overdo rational thought on various ideas; we metaphorically choke on our cognitions.

Thus, dopamine flavors our reasoning. Our brain which is somewhat like a lawyer automatically picks and chooses our thoughts. Further, if we push too hard or for that matter push at all, we are in a quandary. The clash of ideas and the push of rational constraint leave us confused and miserable. Thus dopamine enters the picture. It is the pleasure nuero-transmitter. Surely, this can help us through the night. No. If you have too much dopamine, you are in so much bliss that you fail to act or eat and you fail to live.

Further, we can be fooled by our feelings. We think that we can do the right thing and we feel that what we are doing reasonably well  and alas we are wrong. Many of our rational choices are ones that if we had a bit more information, we would do fine. However, a number of problems are framed in such a way that the right way is really the wrong way(s.) to go. Reason is a tool more in the art of making a living than the art of living.

Incidentally, dopamine is also complimented by serotonin which deals with mood, and

epinephrine that adds to our energy. Further, numerous other bio-chemistries are in balance when we make a “reasonable” decision.

Moses brought down many commandments from his transpersonal connection to God.

However, humans had morals and ethics before Moses and they also broke their own rules. Biological evil appears to emerge when amygdala is not functioning .The pain inflicted on others if anything is calming to psychopaths.

Modernism relative to morals is that rationality proceeds emotionality when in terms of the new research, emotionality is paramount. Morality has rationality in it, but it is emotionally felt. Young soldiers going to war have behavior modification to kill. If not,

only about 20% or less shot at the enemy.

However, the message carried by Moses was the codification of morals as humans appear overwhelmingly not to be angelic. However, many humans are good, but far from perfect, perhaps because altruism feels good. So the brain is a biological organism that struggles to decide on most or nearly all things. Thus, the peace that passes all understanding is there when one chooses to be happy rather than always and absolutely correct and rational.

The author does not directly say it, but with the latest brain research we move from modernism to post-modernism.

This book is well worth the time. Although he uses the necessary biological and technological terms to describe how we decide, his engaging writing generally is followed with definitions and examples that make it more understandable and enjoyable. That is quite a task for a popular science writer describing a very difficult subject to the general public.